Transmission control for automobiles.



R. P. PALMER. TRANSMISSION CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

- APPLICATION FILED'NOV. 13, I914- 1,212,670. Patented Jan.16,1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

a. P. PALMER. v TRANSMISSION CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES. I

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3, 19M.

Patented Jan. 16,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R; P. PALMER.

TRANSMISSION CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-13,1914.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

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ffgz f v if J" .7 7 /i 4 //i f R. P. PALMER. TRANSMISSION CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED No'v; 13.1914

. Patented Jan. 16,1911

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I'm/6M6 l T 5.12 3* 1 RICHARD I. PALMER, or CINCINNATI, oHIo. assrenon or ONE-HALF aro'criantn's R.

BALMER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.-

TRANSIVIISSION CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD P. PALMER,

a citizen of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement .in Transmission Control for Automobiles, of which the following specification is a full'disclosure.

My invention relates to control mechanism for speed change gearing and 1S primarily directed to its adaptation to automobile transmission gearing. One of the ob ects of this invention is t provide a gearing. control device, adjustable for a predetermined selective gear shift, and an operating means for shifting said gearing to theirselected positions.

Another object is to provide a speed change gearing unit intermediate the driving and driven shafts, and a selective gearing control device adjustable to control the direction of a subsequent gear shift, and to provide an operating means adapted to first throw out the driving shaft clutch and then operate the gear shift mechanism.

Another object is to'provide a gearing control device comprising a selective mechanism operated independently of the gear shifting members, but adapted to control the direction of a subsequent gear shift.

Another-object is to provide two gear shifting members, each having two gear engaging positions and an intermediate neutral position, and control devices coordinately positioned to predetermine the direction of subsequent gear shift and to assure the automatic return to neutral intermediate position of one ofthe gear shifting members whenever either of the two gears engaging positions of its companion member have been selected.

Various other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, and from the description thereof, and in such drawings like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, of-

which Figure 1 1s a semi-dlagram'matic elevation of my improved gear shift mechanism as applied to a conventional automobile structure.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the gear control mechanism withthe selecting mechanismremoved and with the parts shown in their reacting elements.

. change from higlfto low speeds.

neutral position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame supporting the selector plates, one of which is shown in position. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the selector plate operating slide and its retaining slideway. 5 is a top plan view of the selector operating slide. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 6-6, Fig. 5. tail view of the cam plate. Fig. 8 is a detail view'of the cam selector. Fig. 9 is a section on line 99, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of one of the switch plates and Fig. 11 is an elevation of the selector plates, showingthe operating slide in operative connection therewith. F ig; 12 is a top plan view of the complete selective unit. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the cam selector 71 and its adjacent parts set for the low speed control. Fig. 1 shows a modified form of indexing mechanism. Fig. 15 is a plan view on line 15-45, Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of the gear control mechanism, showing the positions of the parts as set for a .change from neutral to intermediate speed. Fig. 17 is a similar view, showing the posi tion ofthe parts as set for a change from interm'edia-te" to high speed. Fig. 18 shows the position of the parts as set for a Fig. 19'shows the setting for a change from low to reverse drive.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 indicates a tubular steering-post having journaled thereon a' shaft'll. which has secured to its upper end a collar 12. Pivotally mounted on said collar is a.hand lever 13, spring pressed upwardly to force a finger 14 thereof into engagement with retaining recesses in the index segment 15, which is secured to the steering-post. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 11 is a bevelgear sector 16 which meshes with a companion gear sector 17 journaled on a stud shaft 18, projecting from the frame-work of the machine. The gear-sector 17 has a downwardly projecting arm 19 which is connectedwith a slide 20,

and extends rearwardly to the speed change Fig. 7 is a dein the toot-board and terminates with a;

. tread-plate 31. Pivoted at 32 is a depending link 33 which is pivotally connected to a connecting -link 34: in turn pivotally connected to the reciprocatory multiple cam member or cam plate 35, (see Fig, 2) which serves as the main operating member ofthe selective mechanism, hereinafter described.

A bar 36 is pivotally connected to the link 33 and is provided with an operating lug 37 Said bar is guided on a pin 38 and is spring drawn rearwardly by a spring 39. Pivoted on the operating lever 29 is an operating pawl 40, having a hooked end 41 adapted to engage the lug 37 of the bar 36 to cause said bar, through the links 33 and 34;, to draw the cam plate 35 forwardly. This movement will continue until the depending end 42 of. the pawl strikes a stationary pin 43, which will cause the hooked end 41 to disengage the lug 3'7, after which the spring 39 will restore the bar 36 and connected parts to normal position.

From the construction thus far described, it will be evident that the selective gear shift unit may be first set through the index leverl3, after which the operating lever 29 is rocked to first disconnect the clutch 27 and subsequently reciprocates the cam plate 35 to shift the gears of the speed change unit. In illustrating this speed change unit,

I have utilized a well known form of sliding gears, coiiperating with a gear cone on an intermediate shaft. The driving shaft 25 has secured to its rearward end a pinion a l, which is journaled in the gear case and sapports the forward end of the driven shaft 45. Said pinion is permanently in mesh with the gear 46 of the constantly driven intermediate gear cone 45, a7, 48 and :9, and

is provided with clutch teeth 50, which are adapted to be engaged by internal clutch sliding gear 52. The gear 52 and sliding gear 53 are splined on the driven shaft 45 and are positioned by yoke arms 54 and 55, slidably mounted on a stationary rod 56. A shifting to the right as viewed in Fig. 1) of the gear 52 will .intermesh the clutch teeth 50 and 51 and provide for a direct or high speed drive While a shifting to the left thereof Will intermesh the gear 52, cone gear 47, and provide for an intermediate speed drive through gears A, 46, a7 and 52. A shifting to the right of the gear 53 will intermesh said gear with the cone gear 48 and pr ide for a low speed drive through gears {l 46, 4S and 53, while a shifting to the left thereof will intermesh gear 53, with an intermediate gear 58, which is in constant The lateral selective shifting of the yoke arms 54' and 55 is accomplished by duplicate operating mechanisms, consisting of hell crank levers 60, 61, each' piv'otally mounted on stationary brackets (32, 63, (see Fig. 2), and connected to the yoke arms by links 6%, 65. These levers (30, 61, may be termed gear control elements in that their movements control the lateral shifting of the gears 52, 53. Pin 67 projects rearwardly from the short arms of the bell crank levers and 6X- tends into.three-way cam slots ina reciprocatory cam plate 35, said slots normally serving as a means for retaining the levels 60, 61, in their selectedpositions, and during the reciprocations of the cam plate as operating means for rocking the bell. crank levers.

The cam plate 35 slides in grooves 70, in

the brackets 62, '63, and as previously explained, is reciprocated by the operating lever 29, through the link connections 33, 34, and escapement mechanism 36, 40. As the cam plate is returned to normal position through the influence of the spring 39 of the escapement mechanism, I provide a stop plate-69, for limiting such return movement.

In Fig. 2, the bell crank levers and yoke arms are shown in neutral position for positioning the gears, as shown in. Fig.

For predetern'iining wl'iich branches of the cam slots are to become effective to the pins 67, during a subsequent re rocation of the can'i-plate- 35, 1 prev pair of prepositioned cam sel tor plates 71, 72, which are nivotaiiy on the cam plate at 73, i. These s plates may also lie-termed predetermin transmitters, and are selectively positioned by selector plates (as will be later scribed) to guide the pins 67, into the branches of the threewvay slots of the cam plate and are provided with beveled edges Y5, adapted to coiiperate with beveled pins 76, (see Fig. 8), with a wipe pawl action during the positive stroke of the'cam plate. Said beveled pins or spring plungers 7b are carried by a spring pressed pivotally mounted hinge member 77, confined within a housing on the bell crank levers 6G, 61, and limited in their outward movements by the front plate '7 8, of said housing.

The switch plates '71, 72, are provided with forwardly projetiting guide. pins 80, 81,

which reciprocate in elongated slots 82, 83,

formed near the upper edge of a pair ofselector plates 84, 85,- relatively vertically po-.

plates are guided in Ways 86, formed in a frame-Work 87, and are retained therein by retaining strips 88.

To overcome end thrust of the selector plates against the ways 86, I provide parallel movementlinks 95, which are pivotally mounted at one end on the middle retaining strip ,88 and at their other ends pivotally .connected to the selector plates. The slide (previously described) is provided with a pair of rearwardly projecting anti-friction rollers 89, 90, which engage in elongated cam slots, in the selector plates, having three elevations. ,By a lateral reciprocation of the slide 20, theseselector plates are alternately raised and lowered to control the switch-plates 71, The portion 91 of each selector plate may he termed the neutral zone, and it will be seen (Fig. 11), that when one of the rollers 89, 90, of

the slide 20, engages with theeffective portion of the cam slot of one selector plate, the companion roller will reciprocate in the neutral zone 91, of the cam slot of the other selector plate, thereby forming an interlock against-a double gear shift. Referring to selector plate 8 1, the portion 92, of the cam slot, may be termed the low speed zone, and the portion 93,the reverse drive zone. With reference to selector plate 85, the portion' 92 of its cam slot may be termed the .intermediate speed zone, and the portion 93 the direct high speed zone, These terms serve to differentiate the effects of the different selector plate settings.

vVith reference to Figs. 16 to 19, I will now describe the functions of the cam selector switch plates and the three-way slots in the cam plate. The three-Way slots of the cam plate 35, consist of the neutral branches 100, 100, the intermediate speedbranch 101*, the direct high speed branch 10%, the low speed branch 101, and the reverse drivebranch 102.

In Fig. 16, the appropriate setting for a change from neutral to intermediate speed is shown, with the pins 66, 67, of the bell crank levers 60, 61, in the neutral lever 13 on the steering post.

- willgbe guided inthe path, indicated by dotted lines, and during the reciprocation to theright thereof, the upper beveled edge 75, of the switch plate 72, will engage the It will be remembered that-the beveled spring plunger 7 6, of the bell crank lever 61, with a wipe pawl action, without effecting the elevation of said plunger, or the pin 67, whicha-re axially alined. This will position the pin 67, in the left hand end of the neutral branch 100, of the threeway slot, said pin, during the return movement of the cam plate and switch plates being switched upwardly by an engagement.

of the edge 105, of the switch plate 72, with the spring plunger 76. The intermediate branch 101 of the three-way slot completing such upward movement of the pin 67, to rock the gear controlling bell cranklever-61 and retain it in'its shifted position.

In Figs. 17, 18 and 19, the actions of the parts follow the same principle, as above described, and it is thought that the dotted line indications will make the different shifting movements clear without further elaboration. I y

In Figs. 11 and 15, the modified form of selector plate setting means shows the index rod 100 mounted parallel with and external of the steering post, and the outer end of the index lever 111, forked to receive the tip of a finger of the operator, enabling a setting thereof without removing the hand' from the'rim of the steering-Wheel.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the parts occupy a neutral position with the foot treadle clutch engaged. Such condition" prevails after the hand lever 13 has been set to neutral and the clutch released to a degree'for energizing and tripping the spring 39, in other words, a clutch releasing movement is necessary to make each change in the transmission. The index or gear selecting lever 13 and its controlling mechanisi l is not in its operation dependent upon any movement or control of the foot treadle clutch. The lever 13 is shifted to predeterminately or advancely adjust the selecting devices fora subsequent change of gear combination,

which is only effective during an interval or degree of the treadle clutch releasing mot on, whereupon the shlftlng of the gears or change of drn'e 1s automatlcally accomplished. The lever 13governs in selecting of a gear 'comblnation or drive change and the actual change or gear shifting movements performed .by other mechanism, and the latter operation accomplished under the most favorable conditidns in the proper sequence, to meet any exigency arising for the necessary control of a motor vehicle. Thus as the index lever 13 is not dependent upon the control or motion of any other device in making aselectionof a gear combination or drive desired or to be subsequently deany convenient or opportune time, and quickly altered to meet any exigency. But for the purposes herem, presuming that the operator selects the intermediate driv or sired, the operator can make a selection at CHI trail portion 91 of thecam slot. The slide 20 moving toward the right causes the roller 90 to ride in the cam slot portion92 moving selector plate 85 downward. The selectorplate S4 and its controlling switch plate 71 are locked in their neutral position. Such downward motion of the selector plate 85 swings its switch plate T2 to the position, shown in Fig. 16, which shows the gear shifting levers in neutral position. The switch plate 72 is, therefore, thrown to track the lever 61 into slot 101.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the selector movements in no wise affect the position of the transmission gears or drive.

The actual shifting is-accomplished indirectly by the clutch lever, and during a portion of its forward or clutch releasing motion. Thus assuming the clutch engaged, the first portion of the movement of the treadle lever is utilized to release the clutch, which insures that the transmission shaft is disengaged from the engine or driving shaft before any shifting of gears is accomplished. The next portion of the forward movement of the lever is utilized for energizing spring 39a-nd for moving the cam or shifter plate to its neutral station; the motion being continued until sufficient springenergy has been stored for shifting the-gears, whereupon the clutch lever is automatically released from the spring. The

release is accomplished by tripping the lever or pawl 40 from its engagement with the catch or lug 37. The recoil 'or compression of the spring swings the lever 33 and the cam or shifter plate 35, moving the cam or shifter plate in an opposite direction, and with the switch plate 72 located to track the shifting lever. 61 into the slot 101*, swingsthe lever 61 toward the gears into their inter-mediate location, as shown in Fig. 17. The neutralizing direction of motion of the shifter plate 35, moving all the. transmission elements to neutral, while the reverse motion thereof appropriately moves the transmission parts to their selected changed position. The switch plates have no diverting influence upon the shifting levers during the neutralizing motion of the shifter plate 35.

With the gears shifted by the pressure of the spring a material advantage is obselected chan tained, in that the moving gear or clutch yields to any impact caused a non-meshing of the ears, until the ge teeth rcgister, relic g iarsh meshi or clashing of the gears niiLi-ious to the teeth.

Should the o tor, after completing it necessary to make a ...ne can be acco ished.

the s h treadie to move in a return c 'on first region of its stroke, without iutening driven shaft, and following the operation of lever motion above described. Thus a selection can be made, either with the clutch engaged or disengaged, but an actual gear change cannot be performed unless the cl.'=.itch is disengaged.

Having described claim l 1. A variable ratio gearing comprising a plurality of gears, a. clutch for the trans mission control of said gears, actuati means for said. clutch, shifting means for said gears, and actuating-means for said second change, it by properly and permi my invention, 1

' shifting means adapted to be connected with 'nately controlling said shifting means in its motion to each shifting position, and actuating means for said shifting means adapted to be connected with and disconnected from.

said clutch actuating means, for moving said actuating means in alternate directions during a part of a clutch releasing movement.

3. In a transmission-gear shifting-mechanism, the combination of a gear-shifting member, movable between neutral and active positions; a lever operable from a drivers station; means movable in one direction for cooperating with the shifter member to move it to neutral position and movable in another direction for selectively cooperating with said shifter member to move it to active position; means to impart such dual movements to the first mentioned means upon unidirectional movement of the lever; and means controllable from the drivers station for selectively conditioning the first-mentioned means to move the shifting member to active position.

4:- In a'structure of the character described, the combination with a. "clutch, .a clutch lever movable one way to dise'ngage the selective transmission gearing; of a gear shifter movable between neutral and active bers respectively engaging movable elements of the transmission, said shifter members being axially movable in either direction from neutral mid-position, moving means for said shifter members selectively connectible therewith to move them in either direction from neutral, and invariably operable, preliminarily to connection, to position both shifters in neutral, a'powe'r lever associated with the clutch to control the same and connectible with the shifter means to control their preliminary movement, and automatic means to free said shifter moving means from the power lever and effect their further movement.

6; The combination with an automobile clutch and selective transmission gear, of a gear shifter comprising two shifter members respectively engaging movable elements of the transmission and each movable in two directions to'active positions from neutral mid-positions, moving means for said members having two way movement respectively .to restore said members to neutral and, if

set therefor, to move either thereof in either direction from neutral position; preliminarily operable-means to set; said moving means for movement-of'the desired shifter member to desired active position, a clutch controlling lever, and means for translating unidirectional, clutch-disabling movement of said clutch lever into the two-way movement of said moving means.

7. The combination, in a device of the character described, of a gear shifter mem -in the course of unidirectional movement,

to move said means in direction to position the shifter member in neutral and to release said means for spring actuation in thepther direction.

8. The combination with a change speed transmission gearing and a clutch, of manually operable means for releasing said clutch, shifting mechanism for said change speed gearing,.means for storing power by the operation of said manually-operableclutch releasing means, and a trip for releasing said stored power and actuating said shifting means thereby.

9. The combination with a change speed transmission gearing, of manually-operated means for storing power, means for instantaneously releasing said stored power, means for shifting said transmission gearing actuated by said released stored'power, and selalctj ive means for determining the particular s i t.

10. The combination with a change speed transmission gearing, of means for shifting said gearing to a plurality of positions,

means operable in advance of the shifting operation for selecting the particular shift, a clutch-operating pedal,'and means operated by said clutch-operating pedal while moving in one direction subsequent to the release of the clutch for storing power and then releasing the same, the released stored power actuating said shifting means.

11. The combination with a change speed transmission gearing, of a clutch-operating pedal, means operated by said pedal subsequent to the release of the clutch for shifting the gears to a neutral position, means operated by said pedal moving in one direction for storing power and releasing the same near the completion of the movement in said direction, means operable by the released power for shifting the gears to any one of their several positions of adjustment, and selective means for determining the particular shift afi'ected by the released power.

12. The combination with shifting means.

of a member movable in one direction to store power and instantaneously movable in the reverse direction by the instantaneous release of said stored power, said member be ing mechanically moved in both directions.- and a plurality of coupling connections be" tween said member and said shifting means alternatively operable to cause the movement of said shifting means to a selected position of adjustment.

13. The combination with gear shifting means, of a clutch-releasing pedal, a member actuated in one direction by said pedal subsequent to the release of the clutch to, store power for automatically returning said member, a plurality of coupling devices for respectively actuating said shifting means to different positions of adjustment during the return of said member by the released power, and a trip actuated near the completion of the movement of said pedal for releasing said member and stored power.

, 14. The combination with a change speed transmissien gear and clutch 03? a clutch in Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe operatmg pedal an autmnatm shiftmg my name, as attested by the two subscrlbmg machamsm, and means operated by movewltne ses.

' ment, of the psdal in one direction 01 first RICHARD P. PALMER.

stonng gwwer and than releasing the same "wltnessesz to actuate said autonmtlc shifting mecha- EMMA SPENER,

nisma BE K. 

